India to get Ultra-HD

Videocon’s d2h pay-TV service is to offer consumers 4K/Ultra-HD transmissions, and says it is determined to be first to the India market and ahead of TataSky, Dish TV and the other DTH suppliers. Videocon d2h has some 11 million subscribers, and the market is anticipating it mounting an IPO this year.

Videocon d2h currently supplies 22 HD channels to subscribers, and the company promises Ultra-HD “very soon”, although is no more specific than that. “The 4K Ultra HD DTH services will be available commercially very soon. The live preview of the 4K technology by Videocon d2h is the first step towards ushering a new era of DTH industry in India,” it said, at a press event in Mumbai.

“4K Ultra-HD is the latest innovation in viewing technology. We have successfully previewed the service today and demonstrated our capabilities,” said Saurabh Dhoot, a director of Videocon d2h.

Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera said, “After many firsts in the DTH sector by Videocon d2h, once again we have taken the lead with 4k Ultra-HD services. 4K services previewed today will revolutionise viewing in this country. It will provide images with so much clarity, finer detailing and nuances that the differences will be unbelievable.”

However, Videocon might well be in something of a local race given that TataSky already has a volume set-top box order in place with Technicolor, with a delivery date of “early 2015”.